The Power of Proclamation
Bayless Conley
In our last few devotionals, we have seen we are to pray for the unsaved and live lives that shine the gospel.
But there does come a time to speak up. Look at Romans 10:13-14,
For "whoever calls on the name of the LORD shall be saved." How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher?
When the time does come to speak up, a lot of Christians are like arctic rivers: frozen at the mouth. But someone must tell the story!
Pray for the unsaved, let your light shine, and when the time comes, tell them the gospel story. Paul said in Romans 1:16, I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes.
Through just a simple proclamation of the message, many people, when they hear it, will believe and be saved. The reason for that is found in Romans 10:17,
So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
A proclamation of the message causes faith to arise in people's hearts. Just simply tell them the gospel story: Mankind was separated from God, Jesus paid the price for their sins, He was raised from the dead, and if you put your trust in Him, you can be saved.
As well as opening your mouth to share the Good News, you might consider writing letters to your friends to simply and clearly share the gospel. Incorporate your own story if you feel it would be helpful.
It is easy to share the gospel if you just remember three things: our rebellion, our ransom, and our response. With those three things, you can share the gospel with anyone.
Visit the Answers with Bayless Conley website for more ways to Connect with God
Words to Warm The Heart
The greatness of a man's power is the measure of his surrender. William Booth
We have this treasure in clay jars, so that it may be clear that this extraordinary power belongs to God and does not come from us. 2 Corinthians 4:7
How very great is his power at work in us who believe. This power working in us is the same as the mighty strength which he used when he raised Christ from the death and seated him at his right side in the heavenly world. Ephesians 1:19-20
I will bless the Lord at ALL times; his praise shall continually be in my mouth. Psalm 34:1
Be thou my life, O Lord my God,
In every part with praise,
That my whole being may proclaim
Thy being and Thy ways.
Horatius Bonar
The Tool of Discouragement
Mary Southerland
Today’s Truth
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart” (Proverbs 3:5, NIV).
Friend to Friend
It was advertised that the devil was putting his tools up for sale. When the day of the sale came, each tool was priced and laid out for public inspection. And what a collection it was. Hatred, envy, jealousy, deceit, pride, and lying … the inventory was treacherous. Off to one side was a harmless-looking tool priced higher than all the rest, even though it was obviously more worn than any other tool the devil owned. “What’s the name of this tool?” asked one of the customers. “That,” the devil replied, “is discouragement.” The customer asked, “But why have you priced it so high?” The devil smiled and explained, “Because discouragement is more useful to me than all the others. I can pry open and get inside a man’s heart with that tool when I can’t get near him with any other. It’s badly worn because I use it on almost everyone, since so few people know it belongs to me.”
The valleys in life are lined with disappointment and discouragement. Some people seem to thrive on adversity, emerging from their valley with greater strength and deeper faith. Others stumble and fall, giving in to discouragement and dropping out of the race. The difference in outcome is determined by the way we choose to handle discouragement.
We must respond to each valley with trust and faith. The word “trust” means “to lie helpless, face down” and is the picture of a servant waiting for his master’s command or a soldier yielding himself to a conquering general. “Heart” refers to “the center of one’s being.” In other words, to trust God completely means that from the very center of our being, from the very core of our existence, we trust Him, totally abandoning ourselves in childlike faith to Him and His plan. We come to God, holding nothing in our hands, with one word in our heart – “whatever!” Whatever You want me to do, Lord, I will do. Whatever You want me to say, Lord, I will say. Whatever You want me to think, Lord, I will think. Whatever path You have for me, Lord, I will walk.”
If you are like me, you sometimes think you don’t have enough faith. The amount of faith is not nearly as important as the right kind of faith – faith in God alone. Faith does not rest on what we have done, but on what Christ has already done on the cross and in our lives. Faith builds on the victories of yesterday to help us face the valleys of today and the storms of tomorrow. Faith does not bypass pain. It does, however, empower us to deal with pain. Faith steps up to the bat and invites the opponent to throw his best pitch. Sometimes faith strengthens us, and other times, surprises us. Great faith is forged in the deepest valleys, beginning where our strength and power end.
I love the story of a missionary family, home on furlough and visiting friends. When it was time for dinner, the mother of the missionary children called her kids in. When her son burst through the door, she took one look at his hands and said, “Son, go wash those hands. They are dirty and covered in germs.” With a scowl on his face, the little boy headed to the sink muttering, “Germs and Jesus! Germs and Jesus! That’s all I hear about and I’ve never seen either one!” While we tend to say that seeing is believing, faith says that believing is seeing. Doubt creates mountains; faith moves them. Faith produces trust that shatters fear and leaves no room for discouragement.
Let’s Pray
Father, I am so discouraged. Life is just not turning out like I thought it would. I have had so many disappointments and it seems like I face one valley after another. I need You and the hope that only You can give. Help me to trust You will all of my heart – not just part of it. Teach me how to walk by faith and not by sight. Today, I come to You with a “yes” in my heart for whatever You have planned for my life.
In Jesus’ name,
Amen.
Now It’s Your Turn
Read Hebrews 13:6 “We can say with confidence, ‘The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?’”
· What valley are you facing today?
· What has been your response to that valley so far?
· Are you willing to recognize God as the only source of true peace?
· Are you ready to surrender your valley to God and trust Him to deliver you?
More from the Girlfriends
I know that many of you are discouraged and in pain. My first reaction is that of a mother – to do whatever I can to make that pain go away. But then I remember how God has taken the most painful parts of my life and used them for good. He really has. And I can tell you that no matter where you are, no matter how deep the pit may be, your God sees you and will deliver you. Don’t quit! Don’t give up! God is with you … and so are we!
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